Vending-machine.



0. JAEGER.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED JAN.1e,1911.

1,019,715, Y Patented Mar.5,1912.

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0. JAEGER.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED 1111.18.1011.

1,01 9,71 5. Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I @Il lllll 0. JAEGER.

VBNDING MAOHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18,1911.

l Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

inventor 0. JAEGER.

VENDING MACHINE.

` l APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18.1911. 1,01 9,71 5. Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

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UNTTED sTATns PATENT ernten.

OTTO JAEGER, 0F NORRIST'OWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNDERWRITERS COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTO JAEGER, of Norristown, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vending- Machines, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in vending machines and more especially to the machines of this type wherein a movable carrier may be operated intermittently to position the articles carried thereby for delivery.

An object of the invention is to provide a carrier for a vending machine, which may be loaded at one side thereof, and which will move intermittently so as to bring the articles carried thereby in front of a delivering opening in the front panel of the vending machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for rotating a carrier of the above character, which means is so disposed as to equalize the movement of the carrier when one side thereof is unloaded.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for controlling the rotation of the carrier by a plurality of stopping devices which are operated in succession.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for preventing a too rapid movement of the carrier when released from the holding means therefor.

These and otherl objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings, which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention, Figure I, is a side elevation of a device embodying my improvements. Fig. II, is a view on the line II, II, of Fig. I. Fig. III, is a partial side elevation showing the front panel in section, and the parts on a larger scale. Fig. IV, is a partial side elevation with the panel in section, showing one of the releasing levers for the carrier. Fig. V, is a similar view showing additional parts, with the releasing lever turned so as to release the carrier. Fig. VI, is a detail View of the retarding device; Fig. VII, is a sectional view through the upper part of the dash pot. Fig. VIII, is a detail showing the auxiliary locking means.

In the drawings, the vending machine shown, consists of a frame 1, including side members or frames 2, Q, and transverse frames 3. The top bars 4, of the side frames 9., are provided with spaced lugs 5, between which are located the flat ends of a supporting axle G. A bridging plate 7, serves to secure said shaft in position. The carrier 10, is rotatively mounted on the shaft 6, between the side frames 2. Said carrier is formed with a supporting hub from which projects radial arms carrying a supporting rim which is provided with a plurality of laterally extending pins 11.

Mounted on each pin is a tray 1Q, which consists of end members and connecting shelves 16, and 17. While I have shown herein each tray as having two shelves, it will be obvious that I may use any number of shelves, or a single shelf, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The trays are supported by the pins 11, so as to swing freely thereon as the carrier rotates. In order that the tray may be keptin upright position as the carrier rotates, I have provided a ring 13, which is disposed eccentrically to the axis of the carrier, and rotates in unison therewith. Said ring is guided between rollers 15, mounted upon a bracket projecting laterally from one of the side frames 2. As the carrier rotates, the shelves on the trays are successively brought to the level of a delivery aperture 18, in the front panel 1 9, of the machine.

As a means for rotating the carrier, I have shown herein, a coiled spring 21. A cam 20, is secured to the hub of the carrier, and is formed with a peripheral groove to receive the coiled spring 21. One end of this spring is fastened by means of screw 22, (see Fig. V), to the cam, and the other end of the spring extends around sheaves 23, and 24, and is attached to an adjusting lever` 25. It will be noted that the radius of the cam 20, increases from the free side thereof, toward the attached end of the spring, so that as the carrier rotates from the position shown in Fig. III, which is the normal loading position, the leverage of the coiled spring on the carrier, will increase.

It will readily be seen that as the heavy articles being vended are lifted from the trays on the left as viewed in this ligure the weighted trays on the right will throw the carrier out of balance, and tend to rotate the same in the wrong direction. This increased leverage of the spring on the carrier therefore, equalizes the movement of the carrier, regardless o-f the uneven load thereon.

In order that the t-ension on the coiled spring may be varied to accommodate articles of different weights, I may adjust the lever 25, and hold the same in adjusted positions by a pin 26, adapted to engage any one of the plurality of apertures 27, in the side frame 2.

As a means for preventing the rotation of the carrier through the action of the coiled spring thereon, so that the rotation of the carrier may be intermittent, I have provided two stopping devices, one of which I may term the main stopping device, and the other the auxiliary stopping device. Said main stopping device consists of a lever 32, which is pivoted at 35, to a bracket 37, mounted on the cross bar 4. Said lever 32, carries a projecting stop 31, which is normally in the path of movement of one of the cam plates 30, attached to the carrier. The carrier is provided with a plurality of cam plates 30, which are so disposed as to hold the carrier with the trays in proper position relative to the delivery opening of the vending machine. This lever 32, as herein shown, is adapted to be operated by a coin as the same isinserted through a coin slot in the front of the vending machine. Means is provided for preventing the operation of the lever by improper coins, and said means is connected and coperated with said lever 32. This coin controlling mechanism however, forms no part of the present invent-ion, but is shown, described and claimed in my co-pending ap plication, Serial Number 602,229 filed of even date herewith.

When the lever 32, is raised at the front end thereof, the strop 31, will be moved downwardly out of the path of movement of the cam plate 30, and the coiled spring 21, will start t-he carrier rotating in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. II. The spring 55, normally holds said lever with the rear end thereof raised, and in the path of the cam plate.

The auxiliary stopping mechanism comprises a series of'rolls 65, which are secured to the carrier and properly spaced thereon in a manner similar to the cam plates 30. A locking bolt 70, is supported in a suitable housing 71, secured to the inner face of the frame 2. This locking bolt is spring-pressed forward into the path of the rolls 65. IVheu the carrier is released by the movement of the lever 32, said carrier will rotate until yone of the rolls 65, contacts with the bolt '70. This movement of the carrier is very slight, and lonly sufiicient to carry the stop 31, underneath the cam plate. As a means for releasing the bolt 70, I have provided a lever 75, which is slotted at its upper end and connected to a pin on the outer end of the bolt `70. This lever 7 5 as clearly shown in Fig. I extends downwardly, and at its lower end carries an arm adapted to be engaged by the coin passing through the coin chute, which swings the lever 7 5 and thus releases the bolt 70.

In order to retard the motion of the carrier 10, under the infiuence of the coiled spring 21, I have provided a dash pot S0, which is secured to the upper end of a post 81, extending vertically from the rail 1. An arm 82, is secured to the lower end of the dash pot piston 83, and is provided with a boss 85, which slides freely on the post 81.

The carrier 10, is formed with a series of projecting pins 86, which successively engage the arm 82, (see Fig. VI), on the lower end of the piston rod 83. As the carrier rotates the arm will be raised carrying the piston 90, upward into the dash pot compressing the air therein. The extent of compression is controlled by a bleed slot 91, in an adjustable screw 92, secured near the top of the dash pot, as shown in Fig. VII. By adjusting said screw, the size of the bleed slot may be varied and the timing of the motion of the piston changed, thereby varying the speed of travel of the carrier from one stopping position to another. In order that the arm 82, may drop quickly after sliding off from the pin 86, I have formed an opening in the top member of the dash pot which is controlled by a valve 96, located in the dash pot. When the piston is rising, the opening will be closed by the valve, and the release of the air will be through the bleed slot. l/Vhen the piston is descending, the valve will move away from the opening which is suficiently large to allow the piston to drop quickly, and the arm 82, to move into contact with the next pin 86, on the carrier, and the parts positioned so as to retard the carrier when it is next released to bring the following tray into position in front of the aperture in the vending machine.

The operation of my device will be obvious from the above description.

The carrier is rotated in a clockwise direction, and each shelf supplied with the articles to be delivered, until each tray is filled and the parts are in t-he position shown in Fig. III, of the drawings. The filling of the trays may be accomplished at the rear of the machine. The carrier may be freely rotated in a clockwise direction as the under face of the cam plate 30, is inclined as at 33, so as to ride freely over the projecting stop'on the lever 32. When the carrier is loaded, the proper tension is placed on the coiled spring by adjustingthe lever 25. By manipulating the lever 32, the carrier will be released and will turn under the action of the coiled spring until the auxiliary stopping device is lll,Il

brought into action and the carrier stopped. Upon releasing the auxiliary stoppingdevice, the carrier will then rotate until the next cam plate 30, engages the stop on the lever 32. The dash pot will control the movement of the carrier so that it will run slowly and smoothly under the action ot' the coiled spring, thus preventing the spilling of liquids or the like if they are being vended by the machine.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction may be made wit-hout departing from the spirit of my invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

`I claim 1. A vending machine including in combination, a casing having a delivering opening therein, a rotating carrier, supports mounted on said carrier, means for rotating said carrier to bring said supports in succession in front of said opening, a main stopping device, and an auxiliary stopping device operable independently ot the main stopping device.

2. A vending machine including in combination, a casing having a delivering opening therein, a carrier, supports mounted on the carrier, means for rotating the carrier to bring said supports in succession in :front of said opening, a main stopping device for holding said carrier with a support in trout of said opening, an auxiliary stopping de vice operated independently of said main stopping device for holding said carrier temporarily between the main stopping points.

3. A vending machine including in combination a rotating carrier, and means for rotating said carrier including a cam, an operating member attached at one end to said cam and resting on the periphery thereof, whereby a pull on said member rotates said carrier, said cam being so disposed relative to the carrier as to afford a shitting leverage for the operating member so as to counterbalance the carrier as the same is unloaded.

4t. A vending machine including in combination, a rotating carrier and means iter rotating the carrier including a cam member attached to the carrier and having a peripheral groove formed therein, a coiled spring attached to said cam member and 'freely resting in said groove, and means for placing said coiled spring under tension, said cam member being so disposed relative to the carrier as to afford a shifting leverage for the coil spring so as to counterbalance the carrier as the same is unloaded.

5. A vending machine including in combination, a rotating carrier, and means for rotating said carrier, including a cam member attached to said carrier, and having a peripheral groove therein, a coiled spring attached at one end to said cam member and lying freely in said groove, and means attached to the other end of said coiled spring, for placing the same under tension, said cam member being formed on an increasing radius from the lree side thereof, toward the attached end of the coiled spring, whereby as the carrier rotates, the leverage ot the coiled spring, increases.

(3. A vending machine including in combination a rotating carrier, and means or rotating said carrier including a cam attached to the carrier, a member connected at one end to said cam and engaging the periphery thereof, whereby a pull on said member will rotate the carrier, said cam being formed on an increasing radius from the free side thereotl toward the attached end of said member, whereby as said carrier rotates, the leverage of said member increases.

7. A vending machine including in combination a rotating carrier, and means for rotating said carrier, including a curved member attached to said carrier, a coiled spring resting on the curved portion of said member, and attached at one end thereto, said coiled spring having its other end attached to a lever which may be adjusted, and means for holding said lever in adjusted positions.

8. A vending machine including in combination, a rotating carrier, means for rotating the carrier, a stop mechanism for intermittently controlling the rotation of the carrier, a dash pot, a piston operating in said dash pot, an arm carried by the piston, and means on the carrier cooperating With said arm whereby the movement of the carrier from one stopping position to another, is retarded. i

9. A vending machine including in combination, a rotating carrier, means for rotating the carrier, a stop mechanism 'for intermittently cont-rolling the rotation of the carrier, a dash pot t'or retarding the movement of the carrier from one stopping position to another, said dash pot having an adjustable bleed screw, whereby the movement of the carrier may be varied.

10. A vending machine including in combination, a rotating carrier, a spring for rotating the carrier, means for varying the tension on the spring, a stop mechanism for controlling the rotation of the carrier, said carrier having a plurality of projections, anda dash pot having a movable piston and an arm moving therewith adapted to coperate with said projections in succession for retarding the movement o'f the carrier.

11. A vending machine including in combination, a rotating carrier comprising a plurality of spaced projecting pins, trays pivotally supported by said pins, and a ring located eccentrieally relative to the axis of the carrier, and pivotally connected with each of said trays below the pivotal support for said trays.

12. A vending machine including in combination, a rotating Carrier comprising a In testimony whereof, I have hereunto plurality of spaced projecting pins, trays signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsyl- 10 pivotally supported by said pins, and a ring Vania, this ninth day of January 1911. loeated-ecoentrieally relative to the aXis of the carrier, and pivotally connected Wit-h OTTO JAEGER' each of said trays below the pivotal support for said trays, and rollers for guiding the movement of said ring.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. BELL, E. L. FULLERTON'.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

